ALPHA SYNUCLEIN

Alpha synuclein is a key protein implicated in Parkinson's disease, a common neurodegenerative disease... Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world affecting 1-2 percent of the population over the age of sixty-five 1. There are two types of PD: 1) sporadic and 2) familial 2. A sporadic or idiopathic disease occurs without genetic cause or family history and makes up the majority of Parkinson's diagnoses. The familial cases of PD show characteristic point mutations, duplications and triplications of the SCNA gene, which are passed down through generations 3. The three defining characteristics of PD are: 1) muscle rigidity, 2) bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and 3) a resting tremor. Additional symptoms include postural instability, cognitive impairment, and festinating gait 1.